Air diffuser



July 16, 1957 w. c. DE Roo I 2,799,215

AIR DIFF USER Filed MarGh 23, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILLIAM C. DEROO W. C. DE ROO AIR DIFFUSER July 16, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 23. 1955 v .mi

INVENToR: WILLIAM C. DE ROO United. States Patent O AIR DIFFUSER William C. De Roo, Holland, Mich.,

Cooley Manufacturing Co., Holland, tion of Delaware assignor to Hart &

Mich., a corpora- This invention relates in general to air diffusers and is particularly directed to a diffuser which has combined therewith as a unitary structure a stackhead thus enabling the assembly to be installed in either new or old constructions merely by securing the unit in place at the juncture of the wall and door of a room or other space to be heated or cooled. p

Heretofore in installations of this general type a special stackhead has been made by various manufacturers, none of which would provide a streak-proof assembly. YIn such installations air would be emitted around the outside edge of the diffuser where it lies against the wall. Furthermore, in such installations there was danger of causing breaks in the plaster or paint when the diffuser was removed for cleaning,

The present invention has for its principal object the provision of an air diffuser which includes not only the diffuser but also a stackhead to be assembled therewith, whereby the disadvantages enumerated above, as well as many others, will be obviated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an air diffuser of the type adapted to be applied at the juncture of the wall and floor of a room wherein there is included as a unitary assembly an improvised stackhead and a diffuser panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide an air diffuser which consists essentially of a rear panel and a front panel assembled together wherein the rear panel acts as a stackhead to which an elbow may be attached coming up from the basement from a heating or cooling plant and wherein the front panel is formed with a suitable arrangement of louvers therein to provide va diffuser.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an air diffuser consisting of a rear panel and a front panel wherein the rear panel may be secured to a wall at the oor line to act as a stackhead and wherein the front panel acting as a diffuser may be secured to the rear panel, thereby providing a streak-proof assembly and one which may be disassembled for cleaning purposes without any danger of causing any break in the plaster or painting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an air diffuser assembly embodying the present invention and illustrated in place at the juncture of a wall and door;

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the front and rear panels which comprise the air diffuser of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an under plan view of the assembly with parts broken away for the sake of clarity;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged exploded end elevational view of the diffuser assembly with certain parts thereof shown in section, and

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the assembled diffuser of the present invention with certain parts broken away and shown in sectionffor the sake of clarity.

As mentioned above, the present invention is designed to overcome the disadvantages inherent in diffuser assemblies when the diffuser is mounted directly in the wall of a room and is thus connected to a special stackhead leading from the air conduit. The invention herein embodies an assembly of two differentpanels resulting in the face of the diffuser being set out from the wall and the rear part thereof being utilized as a stackhead enabling such a close fit between the assembled parts that all streaking is avoided as well as enabling the assembly to be applied not only to new installations but also to old constructions.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the air diffuser assembly comprising the present invention includes a rear panel 1 and a front panel 2. These panels are adapted to be secured together into a unitary structure as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Fig. 1 shows the assembly as it appears in position for use at the juncture of a wall 3 and a floor 4.

The rear panel 1 consists of a plate 5 having a flange 6 extending forwardly from the upper edge thereof and end flanges 7 and 8 extending forwardly from each end thereof.

Angle members 9 and 10 are welded or otherwise securely xed to the end flanges 7 and 8 respectively and aid in maintaining the assembly streak-proof while at the same time providing a support to which the front panel 2 may be secured'.

The angle member 9 secured to the end flange 7 includes a forwardly extending vertical portion 11 which has ar part 12 thereof bent inwardly as clearly shown in Fig. 2,l said portion being bent so that it slopes upwardly and rearwardly, thereby defining an inclined edge portion 13 thereon. A bottom portion 14 is bent inwardly as shown in Fig. 2 and provides additional support for the assembly.

The angle member 10 at the opposite end of the rear panel 1 is formed in a similar manner and extends in a forward direction being welded or otherwise secured to the end ange 8. This angle member `consists of a plate 15 which has a portion 16 thereof bent inwardly and at an angle so that it extends upwardly and rearwardly, thereby providing the inclined edge portion 17. At the bottom thereof the flange 18 is bent inwardly to a substantially horizontal plane so that the space 19 between the inturned flanges 14 and 18 constitutes an air inlet opening from a conduit situated therebelow.

The front panel 2 includes a face plate 20 having an upper flange 21 extending rearwardly from the upper edge thereof and end members 22 and 23 which extend rearwardly from the plate 20. While the particular configuration of these end members 22 and 23 may constitute any desired form, it is preferred that they be substantially triangular shaped with the base of the triangle at the bot-- tom. The rear edges `of these end members are substantially vertical so that when the front panel is applied to the rear panel the end flanges will be received snugly thereagainst and so that the edge will be located against the wall. Likewise, the bottom edge of each end member is substantially horizontal to follow the floor line. This construction enables the end members to embrace the end anges 7 and 8 of the rear panel as well as the angle members 9 and 10. The upper ange 6 o-f the rear panel will also abut the under surface of the flange 21 on the front panel, thereby providing an effective seal to prevent streaking.

The front and rear panels may be secured together by means such as the screws 24 and 25 which are received by holes 26 and 27 in the inclined flange portions 12 and 16 respectively.

Any suitable arrangement of louvers may be provided in the face plate 20 of the front panel 2, such arrangement forming no part of the present invention. It is preferred, however, that for best results there be provided the ar- Patented July 16, 1957 3 rangement shown which consists of the opposed groups of arcuate ns 28 and 29, the upper group of substantially horizontal fins 30, and the lower group of horizontal ns 31. The upper part of the plate 20 is slotted as at 32 to receive an operating handle 33 which is bent angularly as at 34 at its inner end and secured by means of a bolt 35 to a damper 36. This particular arrangement of damper is well known in the art and need not be described in detail except to point out that the damper 36 is mounted for rotative movement, such as by the arrangement generally indicated at 37. Thus, downward movement of the operating handle 33 will open the damper and an upward movement thereof will close the damper.

The advantages of the arrangement above described will become apparent when consideration is given to the fact that the rear panel 1 is the equivalent of a stackhead within theroom itself and when the front louvered panel is secured in place thereon a tight seal will be effected around the diffuser, thereby preventing streaking. lt will also be apparent that when it is desired to disassemble the unit forv cleaning purposes, all that need be done is to remove the screws 24and 25, whereupon the front panel can be moved away from th rear panel without causing any breaking or cracking of the plaster or paint around the unit.

Furthermore, it will be obvious that this unit has particular advantages for installation in old constructions, making it unnecessary to break through the plaster to cut a hole in the wall and to fabricate a specially designed stackhead. It is only necessary to provide an opening in the floor adjacent the wall and place the assembly thereover, whereupon the stackhead is provided as an integral part of the unit, making it necessary only to connect the air inlet to the unit with a conduit by means of an elbow.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts from those disclosed herein without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriciug any of the attendant advantages thereof, provided, however, that such changes fall within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

l. An air diffuser assembly comprising, a rear panel including an upright imperforate wall adapted to be positioned at the juncture of the wall and floor of a room, flanges extending forwardly from the top and ends of said wall, an angle member at each end of said wall having a substantially vertical leg secured to the adjacent end flange and a substantially horizontal leg extending inwardly therefrom, the space between said last named legs being an air inlet opening, a front diffuser panel having rearwardly extending flanges at the top and ends thereof embracing the top and end anges of said rear panel, and means removably securing said diffuser panel to said angle members.

2. An air diffuser assemblycomprising, a rear panel including an upright imperforate wall adapted to be positioned at the juncture of the wall and door of a room, flanges extending forwardly from the top and ends of said wall, an angle member at each end of said wall having a substantially vertical leg secured to the adjacent end flange and a substantially horizontal leg extending inwardly therefrom, said angle members being wider than said end flanges and the space between the horizontal legs thereof being an air inlet opening, -an upwardly and rearwardly inclined flange portion bent inwardly from the vertical leg of each said angle member, a front diffuser panel having rearwardly extending flanges at the top and ends thereof embracing the top and end flanges of said rear panel, said diffuser panel and the front edges of said end flanges thereon being upwardly and rearwardly inclined, and means removably securing said diffuser panel to said upwardly and rearwardly inclined flange portions on said angle members.

3. A unitary stackhead and diffuser assembly comprising in combination, a stackhead member including a panel adapted to be positioned at the juncture of the wall and Hoor of a room, flanges extending forwardly from the top and ends of said panel, other flanges at the bottom of said panel extending inwardly toward each other but spaced apart to provide an air inlet opening, and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined inwardly extending flange on each of the end anges of said panel; a diffuser member including an upwardly and rearwardly inclined front panel having rearwardly extending top and end anges snugly embracing the flanges on said stackhead member; said stackhead and diffuser when assembled, constituting a separate and integral streakproof unit; and means removably securing said diffuser member to said upwardly and rearwardly inclined flanges on said stackhead member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

